Porsche ski lifts and heated seats let you hit the slopes in style

The new Piz Seteur gondola ski lift at Val Gardena in the Dolomites is designed by Pininfarina, the designers and coachbuilders who work for carmakers including Ferrari and MaseratiLEITNER ROPEWAYS

Ski lifts designed by luxury car brands, wifi on the slopes and heated chairlifts — glitzy ski resorts have become technology battlegrounds as they compete to lure rich holidaymakers.

Over the summer more than 80 new chairlifts and gondolas were installed at ski resorts across the Alps and North America. Such is the demand for sleek new lifts — the cost of which typically runs into the tens of millions of pounds — that traditional manufacturers are forging partnerships with sports car designers to win lucrative contracts from resorts.

“There has certainly been a shift in recent years, with the onus no longer simply about having bigger and faster lifts,” said Patrick Thorne, who runs Save Our Snow, a campaign against climate change. “Now resorts…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.